Card feeding and handling device



May 7, 1935. c. o. LAKE CARD FEEDING AND HANDLING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 7, 1935. c. D. LAKE CARD FEEDING AND HANDLING DEVICE Filed June 29, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mdE Wwmmmmm QQQQQQQ IN... will... mnnmm ww 2:2. .INNNNN WK.) ATTORNEY Patented May 7, 1935 2,000,236 CARD FEEDING AND HANDLING DEVICE Clair D. Lake,

mesne assignments, Machines Corporation, poration of New York Application June 29, 1932, Serial No. 619,903

9 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to card controlled machines in general and more particularly to those adapted to sort record cards such as are used to control the operation of the well known Hollerith type of tabulating machine.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a novel means for distributing the individual cards of a plurality of groups of cards into a series of sorting pockets, so that the cards of each group having the same sequential allocation will be sorted into the same pocket. This may be better explained by an illustrative example taken from industrial practice. In certain industries a group of cards, let us say eight; for example, are gang punched with a workmans number and areserially numbered with a particular working period.

man in a punched for each after the punching are complete, there groups of so that all cards of the dates of the days of A similar group is department and and numbering operations will be a number of such cards which it is desirable to rearrange the first day comprise one group, all cards of the second day comprise another group, etc.

Heretofore, this rearrangement has been effected by manual means which obviously is tedious and time consuming.

The present invention contemplates the rapid rearrangement of such groups of cards, each having a similar number of individual cards similarly arranged in the same sequential order. Use is made of a well known sortingmachine of the type disclosed in Patent No, 1,741,985, issued to E. A. Ford on December 31, 1929 in which a plurality of sorting pockets are employed. The invention provides mechanism for automatically feeding each card of the first group to a different pocket,

and then feeding the corresponding sequentially allocated cards of the next group to the same pockets and in the same order.

through the machine each pocket have passed After all groups will contain all the cards relating to a particular date.

A further object of the ready readjustment usual card sorting operations. the drawings there is shown a performance of In Fig. 1 of the machine provides for of the machine for the Fig.2isa

fragment of a record card.

Fig. 3 is a partial circuit of a modified form of the invention.

Before proceeding with the description of the guide blades leading invention the sorting plained as to its general ings show an electric Binghamton, N. Y., assignor. by to International Business New York, N. Y., a cor-' machine will be briefly exprinciples. The drawally controlled sorting machine in which the sorting of the record cards ing magnet ll under the medium of a sortthe sorting magnet, is in circuit with the analyzing brush 22 and, with the sorting magnet, receives source I! as soon as a exciting current from a hole is encountered in the card column. analyzed. According to the point of time atwhich sorting magnet ll takes upon which the ends of the tongues 24 to the card receiving pockets the destination of the card rest, determines being analyzed.

the energization of the place, the armature 28, of the The ends of the tongues 24 are spring-urged armature 23 so that durin downwardly upon the the card analyzing cycle guided between the ends of 23, with the result that on the sorting magnet ll, only as lowered by the armature as the armature energization of the many tongues 24 are .the record card R is the tongues 24 and do not overlie the record card, while the remaining tongues 24 are kept card. For this purpo bar 26, parallel to, and on a level in raised position by the there is provided a fixed with, the armature 23, in its normal position, arranged to support the record card ered. It may energization of the so the position of the after the armature is lowbe mentioned that the time of rting magnet depends upon hole in the card column, each of which has twelve index point positions, so that the cards may be guided selectively into any one of twelve sorting pockets 25.

Through the downward movement effected by energization of the sorting magnet, the tongues 24 disengaged from the card R produce a gap between the last tongue caught and the next adjacent tongue, the armature wardly along with by the record card moved down- 23, into which gap the record card is conveyed and thereafter guided to the coordinated sorting pocket by means of the usual feeding If it should happen that there tion in the card column analyzed, the

will'not beenergized neath all of the tongues rollers 21. V

is no perforamagnet H and the card will pass be- 24 and will be guided to a thirteenth pocket 25R known as the reject pocket. The card feeding mechanism comprises a picker 20, cards, singly, a pair of feed rollers to and between brush horizontally reciprocable to feed from the bottom of a stack 29 to 30 which advance the card 22 and contact roller 30.

brush 2|.

The drive of the machine is eifected by means of a motor 3| which is under control of motor relays 32 and 33 in such a way that upon the energization of the same, the motor is connected to the current source l1. Energization of relays 32 and 33 is effected through depression of the start key to close start contacts S, setting up a circuit from negative side of source i1, wire 34, contacts S, card lever relay 35, relays 32 and 33, wire 36 to positive side of source I1. Relay closes its point 35a in series with the usual card levercontacts 31 and forms a shunt circuit around contacts S so that as long as cards continue to run through the'machine, the energizetion of relays 35, 32.and 33 will be maintained. After the last card has passed the brushes 22 and the card lever contacts 31 have opened, or the stop key contacts ST have been opened, the deenergization of the relays 35, 32, 33 is eifected, in consequence of which the motor 3| will be disconnected from the current source l1 and the machine will thereafter come to rest.

In order to secure proper operation of the sorting machine, it is necessary that the sorting magnet remain energized from the moment at which energization takes place until the last index point position in the card column has passed from beneath the analyzing brush 22. The winding of the brush relay I0 is connected in series with the sorting magnet H and is energized therewith as soon as a hole is encountered in the card column analyzed and corresponding tojthe adjustment of the contact segments |2 0t commutator l3. There are twelve segments l2 and these successively contact with a brush H which is connected by a wire l5 to the common brush of roller 39. Commutator i3 also has-a common wiping brush lli connected to the current source l1 through a wire l8 and resting upon a metallic ring l9 which is electrically connected to a commutator segment 20 which cooperates with a The commutator l3, which is synchronized with the speed of passage of the cards, moves its segments |2 past brush l4, one for each index pointposition of the card.

If, during the passage of the card past the usual sorting brush 22, the card hole in the column analyzed coincides with wiping of a segment I2 of the commutator I3, then, as may be seen from the drawings, energization of the brush relay l0 and sorting magnet I will be effected.

The foregoing outlines the usual operation of a sorting machineand if switches 38 and 39 are left in open position, ordinary sorting may be performed by the machine. With these switches closed, and the sorting brush raised out of engagement with the contact roller 30 the machine will be prepared to distribute cards in accordance with the invention. Additional commutators X, Y and Z' are provided which may be mounted coaxially with commutator l3 to make one revolution per card cycle therewith. Commutator brushes 40 and 4| may also be carried by the same shaft to cooperate with stationary commutators 40a and Ma to control circuits in a manner to be presently explained.

Assuming that several groups of cards, each containing, let us say, eleven cards, have been placed in the stack 29, depression of the start key will cause feeding of the first card from the bottom of the stack, advancing its leading edge toward the tongues 24. After the card lever contacts 31 are closed thereby (which occurs before the cards reach the first tongue 24) a circuit is completed when the leading edge of the card is in the dotted line position as shown in the drawings, as follows: from negative side of source l1, wire 42, contacts 31, switch 38, wire 43, brush 40, the II segment of commutator 40a, wires 44 and 45 to the I I" segment of commutator 4 la, brush 4|, wire 46, switch 39, wire 41, brush relay l0, sorting magnet ll, wire 48 to positive side of source 1. The two tongues in advance of the card will thereupon be lowered and the card will continue into the gap so provided and will be conducted to the I I sorting pocket 25.

At the same time, a parallel circuit will extend from wire 44, through a relay A, relay A, wire 49, to the positive side of source 1. Relay A will close its points to set up a holding circuit for relays A and A as follows: from positive side of source |'1, wire 49, relays A, A, points oi. relay A, wire 59, points 5|a of a relay 5|, wire 43, switch 38,'contacts 31, wire 42 to negative side of source |1.

On the next card cycle, when the leading edge of the second card reaches a point between the ends of the third and fourth tongues 24 from the left, at which time brushes 40 and 4| will contact their "9 segments, a circuit will be established as follows: from negative side of source |1, wire 42, contacts 31, switch 38, wire 43, brush 49, 0" segment of commutator 40a, wire 52, points of relay A (now closed), wire 53, 0 segment of commutator 4| a, switch 39, wire 41, brush relay l0, sorting magnet wire 48 to positive side of line l1. The three tongues in advance of the card will thereupon be lowered and this second card will continue into the gap so provided and will be conducted to the 9 sorting pocket 25. A parallel circuit as before will set up a holding circuit for relays B and B to keep their respective points closed.

In this manner a circuit through the sorting magnet II and a parallel relay holding circuit will be completed for each card of the supposed group of eleven cards, at a time in their respective cycles which will be one point earlier than the time of completion of corresponding circuits in the cycle immediately preceding. Thus, as the last or eleventh card of the group approaches the brush 4|, wire 46,

tongues 24, the circuits will be completed through the 9 segments of commutators 40a and Ma and through the closed points of relay J to drop all the tongues 24 and cause selection of the "9 sorting pocket 25. Relay K will incidentally be energized and a holding circuit therefor set up as for the other relays. Following this last pocket selecting operation and toward the end of the cycle, commutator Z completes a circuit as follows: from positive side of source 1, wire 49, relay 5|, brush 54, segment 55, brush 56, wire 51, closed points of relay K, wire 50, brushes 58 of commutator Y (now bridged by segment 59), wire 43, switch 38, contacts 31, wire 42 to negative side of source |1. Relay 5|, upon energization, opens its points 5|a and closes its points 5|b, the latter setting up a holding circuit for relay 5| as follows: from positive side of source l1, wire 49, relay 5|, points 5|b, wire 60, brushes 6| of commutator X bridged by segment 62, wire 43 to negative side of source as before. Opening of points 5|a will open the common holding circuit of the relays AK and transfer it to the control of segment 59 whose brushes 58 are wired in shunt across points 5|a. When brushes 58 break connection, however, the relays A'K are still held by a circuit from negative side of line to wire 43, brushes 6| and segment 62 of commutator X, closed points 5|b of relay 5|, brushes 54, 56 and segment 55 of commutator Z, wire 51, relay K, wire 49 to positive side of source ll. When segment 55 leaves brushes 54 and 55, relays AK and A'-J' will become deenergized and will permit opening of their respective points, the breaks ing are at the segment 55 being dissipated in the condenser which is wired in shunt across brushes 54, 56.

At the-completion of the eleventh card cycle the circuits will be in readiness to distribute the eleven cards of the second group in the same manner as before, the process being repeated for each succeeding group until the supply of cards is exhausted or the machine is otherwise stopped.

Several switches 65a, 55b, and 650 are provided which may be closed if the number of cards in the groups to be distributed is less than 11. Thus, if the groups comprise eight cards, switch 55a may be closed and immediately following the selection of a sorting pocket for the eighth card (at which time the points of relay H close) the commutator Z will complete a circuit as follows: from positive side of source l1, wire 49, relay 51 to brush 54, segment 55, brush 55, wire 51, switch 65a, closed points of relay H, wire 50, brushes 58 of commutator Y, wire 43, switch 35, contacts 31, wire 42 to negative side of source II. From this point the ensuing circuits will be identical with those described above in connection with'the last card of the eleven card groups.

With switch 55b closed, nine-card groups will be automatically distributed and with switch 55c closed, ten-card groups will be distributed into ten sorting pockets.

Fig. 3 shows a modified form of circuit arrangement whereby groups of cards which comprise a variable number of individual cards may be sim-'- ilarly distributed so that the first cards of all groups enter one pocket, the second cards enter a second pocket, and so on. The last card of each group is identified by a special perforation in the l2" index point of a predetermined column as at in Fig. 2 and this special perforation will affect the machine circuits in the same manner as the relay points of relays I, J or K in the preferred form. That is, sensing of hole 10 will .cause deenergization of such relays AK that have been set up and condition the machine to feed the card immediately following into the pocket which receives all the first cards of the groups.

For this operation the parts shown in heavy lines in Fig. 3 have been addedto the circuit of Fig. 1 and with switch II in the. position shown and brush 22 located to traverse the card column containing hole 10 a circuit will be completed at the I2 time in the cycle as follows: from positive side ofsource I1, wire 12, relay [3, wire 14, switch H, brush 22, hole 10, contact roller 30, wire l5, brush I4, commutator I3, brush l6, wire l8 to negative side of source ll. Energization of relay 13 will close its points 13a. and connect wires and 51 at the time when segment 55 of commutator Z bridges brushes 54, 55. The circuit to relay 5| will thereupon be completed following which, as explained in detail above, relays AK and A'--J' are reset and operations will take place on the next group to feed the next card into the pocket assigned to the first cards of the groups. In this manner groups having indeterminate numbers of cards will be distributed so that all cards of the same sequential allocation will be sorted into a common pocket. The closure be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be 10 made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is the intention therefore to be limited only'as indicated by the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is as follows: 1

i. In a sorting machine of the class described,

a plurality of sorting pockets, each selectable in response to a differently timed electric impulse, means for emitting a series of differently timed impulses corresponding in number to said pockets, a circuit partly established for each impulse and means controlled by one of said circuits upon completion for completing the establishment of another of said circuits.

2. In a sorting machine of the class described, a plurality of sorting pockets, each selectable in response to a diflerently timed electric impulse, means for emitting a series of differently timed impulses to select each of said pockets in succession, means effective upon selection of the last of said pockets for causing repeated emission of said series of impulses and means for selectively suppressing the effectiveness of one or more of said impulses.

3. In a machine of the class described, means forfeeding a plurality of groups of cards each having a different number of cards, a plurality of sorting pockets, means for effecting a series of selecting operations equal in number to the number of cards in a group whereby a separate pocket is selected for each card of a group, means cooperating with said last named means for initiating a separate series of selecting operations for each group and for causing each series of operations to select a number of pockets equal to the number of cards in the corresponding group.

4. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a plurality of groups of cards each having a different number of cards, a plurality of sorting pockets, means for effecting a series of selecting operations for successively selecting a difierent pocket for each card of the first group, means cooperating with said selecting means and controlled by the last card of the first group for causing a repetition of said series of operations whereby a pocket is selected for each card of the second group, said cooperating means being adapted to be controlled by the last card of said second group to terminate the second series of selecting operations after the selection of a pocket for each card of the second group.

5. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a plurality of groups of cards, each having a different number of cards, a plurality of sorting pockets, means, for initiating a separate series of selecting operations for each group of cards fed through the machine to cause the selection of a separate pocket for each card of a group and means cooperating with said cards for limiting the number of operations in each, series to the number of cards in the corresponding group.

6. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a plurality of groups of cards, each having a different number of cards, a plurality of pockets, selecting means therefor operable in response to timed electric impulses for selecting said pockets in succession, an emitter adapted to emit a series of timed electric impulses, one for each pocket, to control said selecting means, and means operable in response to the feeding of each group of cards for rendering effective only a number of impulses equal to the number of cards in a group.

7. In a machine of the class described, means for feeding a plurality of groups 0! cards, each having a different number of cards, a plurality of pockets, pocket selecting means operable in response to timed electric impulses for selecting a different pocket in response to different impulses, means for emitting a series of timed impulses and means controlled by one of the cards of each group for selecting for eflective operation a number of said impulses equal to the number of cards in'said groups whereby the selected impulses will control the selection of a difierent pocket for each card or the group.

8. In combination, in a sorting machine, a plurality of sorting pockets, means for feeding record cards successively, pocket selecting mechanism, record analyzing mechanism adapted to control said selecting mechanism to select a pocket for each record card in accordance with the data sensed by the analyzing mechanism, further means independent of said analyzing mechanism and comprising a plurality of difierently tuned circuits each eflfective to partially complete the next for causing said selecting mechanism to automatically select said pockets in a predetermined order to receive successively ted records in such order and settable means for selecting either the analyzing mechanism or said last named means for control of said selecting mech- CLAIRD. LAKE. 

